Cheers For Stinging Nettles

Stinging nettles can be very painful and memories as a child from touching them are quite vivid. We learn from experience and most who have encountered stinging nettles for the first time I am sure were left with a lasting impression of pain. But nettles have many other uses, including the sting elements.

The Romans rubbed nettles on their body to reduce arthritic pain and is commonly prescribed in the treatment of arthritis today in the form of tea or tincture.

The nettle herb is rich in minerals including iron, calcium and silica and also vitamin C and chlorophyll. something that many don't know is that the nettle has lots of protein and excellent nutritional value and used as a good tonic for blood, iron deficiency, gout, chronic skin diseases and rheumatism.

Food wise, nettle can bee used in the same way as spinach and tastes simliar, try mixing it and cooking with spinach. Nettle beer is an old favourite of mine, the recipe is given here - Well worth the effort and don't forget, it is very cheap to make.

HOME-MADE NETTLE BEER

Ingredients

• 1 kg Young Nettles (Tops only)
• 5 ltrs Water
• 500g Sugar
• Juice of 2 Lemons
• 25g Cream of Tartar
• 15g Brewers or Wine Yeast

7 Step Method

1. Wash the nettles and shake dry in a tea towel.
2. Put the nettles into the water into large saucepan and 20 minutes.
3. Strain into a large container. Peel off the yellow rind of the lemons and squeeze out the juice then add the these and the cream of tartar to the bulk liquid stirring well.
4. After the mixture has cooled down to room temperature mix the yeast with a little of the liquid and then stir it back into the liquid.
5. Cover the container with a clean towel to form a lid, you may have to tie it on with some string to prevent the middle of the towel dipping into the mixture.
6. Leave in a warm place for around 3-4 days then strain the liquid into plastic lemonade bottles leaving around 4 cm of air for pressure that will build up.
7. Store the bottles in a cool dark place and you can drink it after about a week.

Cheers!

Clematis Beautiful with Major Health Benefits

I am a great fan of the Clematis. In England it was commonplace in my garden often climbing up fruit trees as it is a vigorous climber with the most of attractive flowers. There are many varieties from the shrubby to the herbaceous perennial. Some Clematis vines can grow as long as 100 feet. However there is more than meets the eye to this beautiful climber.

They grow happily in temperate regions and also in mountains in the tropics. They do well on limestone and other basic soils and in the warmer climates some species are actually evergreen. Although known as Clematis in English it is also known as Traveller's Joy, Old Man's Beard, Leather Flower, Vase Vine or Virgin's Bower.

In America the Clematis was called the Pepper Vine by early pioneers travelling west and used it as a pepper substitute to spice up food. Black pepper was expensive and rare during that time. From the Clematis the essential oils irritate the skin and can cause internal bleeding of the digestive tract if ingested in large amounts. From this the plants could be described as toxic. But the Native Americans used small amounts of clematis as treatment for migraine headaches, other nervous disorders and for the treatment of skin infections.

The root of the Clematis is used China to treat the pains and stiffness from rheumatism. The treatment is also used for arthritic aches, spasms, swelling, numbness, lower back spasms and joint pains caused from damp conditions. It also gives relief to many suffering from restricted mobility

Summing up the benefits of Clematis are wide ranging. It acts a pain reliever, including headaches, varicose veins, syphilis, gout, rheumatism, bone disorders and chronic skin condition and also works as a diuretic. Added to this it is an anti-rheumatic, analgesic, anti-diuretic and antibacterial, with the root of the Clematis also known to reduce blood sugar.

With all these medical benefits attributed to this amazingly pretty herb found in many domestic gardens it is perhaps underrated as a herb.

Viola Tricolour

The Viola tricolour or wild pansy as it is called is quite a beautiful plant. For the most it has been used as a model for painting and pictures. However, has been found to contain a rich source of anti-oxidants. This is excellent as an anti-allergenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal remedy.

This viola tricolour based recipe is given for making a soothing cream to treat high blood pressure, indigestion, coughs and colds as well as rheumatic problems

Ingredients

1 cup Viola Tricolour (pounded into a pulp)
1 cup Aquerous cream
2 teaspoons vitamin E oil

Method

Use a milk double boiling system and put the cream and the viola tricolour pulp together and stir for around 15 minutes keeping the mixture warm.

Using a fine sieve, strain the mixture through and add the vitamin E oil.

When cool place into a sterilised seal container (a screwed top bottle is ideal.) Then store in the fridge.

Application

The cream should be applied and rubbed in frequently until the symptoms are subside. You should naturally see a doctor if the symptoms persist for any length of time.

You can also make an infusion for a bath by boiling up 4 cups worth of the flowers, including the stems, in two litres of water for 10 minutes. this can then be strained into your bath and is very good for the easing of rheumatism and general aches and pains.

These are easy to grow if you can get hold of the seeds. It is an annual plant therefore needs to be replanted in the early winter each year. They need a little attention and is possible plants in a well dug composted area. Twice weekly watering and ensure dead heads are plucked off to give a longer flowering period. You will be rewarded well with this most attractive and useful plant.

The seeds can be bought online through this site: www.eseeds.com

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